Highway traffic warning signal device



Dec. 10, 1963 M. KORN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WARNING SIGNAL DEVICE Filed NOV.20, 1961 FIG.1

KIIK F IG. 3

INVENTOR.

Meyer Korn -,3. 1%-

AT TORNEY United States Patent Ofiflce 3,ll3,55l Patented Dec. 10, 1%633,113,551 lllGl-EWAY TRAFFEC WARNENG SIGNAL DEVEQE Meyer Kern, 327 E.29th St., Brooklyn, Nil. Filed Nov. 28, Ser. No. 153,515 4 Claims. (Cl.116-63) This invention relates to a trafiic signal device and moreparticularly concerns a signal device of the type used on highways towarn of a stopped vehicle.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved proved traflicsignal device in the form of an inflatable flexible envelope, which isformed of colored plastic sheeting and may be quickly inflated toprovide a conspicuous and immediately noticeable signal means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a signal device ofthe character described which comprises a light weight flexibleenvelope, together with flexible valve means which permits the envelopeto be quickly inflated for use; said inflated envelope lending itself topositioning in an upright manner while secured to a suitable base bymeans of adhesive tape provided for the purpose.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a signal deviceembodying the invention with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a baseelement; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 16 designates a traflic warningsignal device embodying the invention. The same comprises a flexible,tubular envelope 11 formed of extruded thin plastic material such aspolyethylene or the like.

The envelope ll in deflated, flattened form comprises opposedrectangular shaped walls 12, 13 which may have a length 3 to 4 times thewidth thereof. Walls 12, 13 are hot seamed together at one end thereof,as at 14, to provide an air tight closure at said end. The envelope llis also hot seamed at its other end, as at 15, in a manner similar tothe formation of seam 14, except that a thin, flattened, flexible valveelement 16 is inserted etween the seamed edge portions l7, 13.

Valve element 16 is of a known construction, being formed of extruded,thin plastic material to provide limp walls 19 in opposed relation; saidelement being open at the opposite ends thereof 2%, 2-1. The valveelement 16 is suitably located at a central point in seam line 15, withone end portion 22 projecting interiorly within envelope 11 and theother end portion 23 projecting outwardly of the envelope 11.

It will be apparent that envelope ll may be readily inflated by blowinginto the outer portion 2-3 of valve element 16. The limp walls of theinner portion 22 of the valve element 16 are held in contacting relationby the build up of pressure within the envelope, thus elfectivelysealing the inflated envelope.

The envelope 11 is formed of plastic material of con spicuous coloringso as to readily attract attention. Furthermore, the walls 12, 13thereof are imprinted in contrasting colors with selected Warmingsignals. When the envelope 11 has been fully inflated, it will assume anelongated, pillowlike condition. Such envelope is then disposed in anupright condition at a suitable location in respect to the parkedvehicle, so as to serve as a warning signal for oncoming vehicles.

To this end, envelope 11 can be anchored to a base member by means ofadhesive tape. Thus, a hub cap indicated at 25 serves as a base member.A pair of tape members 26, 27 are provided, for securing envelope 11 tobase member 25. Tape members 25, 27 are provided with the usual coverlayers, not shown, which are stripped off to expose pressure sensitivecoatings on the tape mem bers.

The tape members 26, 27 are secured to the lower end portions ofenvelope, to walls l2, 13 thereof, and projecting end portions of saidtape members are secured to top surface portions of the base member 25.

When envelope 11 is not in actual use, it is readily deflated, as byinserting a tubular strawlike member, not shown, into valve element 15,to allow the air within said envelope to escape. The envelope, can thenbe fold ed into compact form for storage until it is to be used again asa warning signal. A number of tape members 25, 2'? are provided formultiple uses of the device 169.

The envelope 11 can bear coatings or imprints of fluorescent inks so asto be self illuminating in the glare of the lights of oncoming vehiclesat night. As the devices iii are extremely economical to produce, thesame may be discarded, if desired, after a single usage.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemedillustrative and not by way of limitation, except as set forth in theappended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. A highway trailic Warning signal device comprising an elongatedrectangular inflatable envelope including opposed rectangular wallportions, said walls being secured together about their peripheraledges, a thin flexible valve member secured between edge portions ofsaid wall portions, one end of said valve member projecting into theinterior of said envelope and the other end projecting outwardly of saidenvelope whereby said envelope may be inflated, and adhesive tape meanson one end of said envelope for securing the inflated envelope to a basewhile disposing the inflated envelope in an upright signallingcondition, said envelope being foldable to flat compact form when not inuse.

2. A highway traflic warning signal device comprising an inflatablerectangular envelope, said envelope comprising a tubular member of thinlimp plastic sheeting, said tubular member being sealed transversely atthe opposite ends thereof, a flattened tubular valve device of thinflexible material secured between sealed edge portions of said tubularmember at one end thereof, said valve device including one end portionthereof projecting interior-1y of said envelope and another end portionprojecting exteriorly of said envelope, and a plurality of adhesive tapesections on opposite sides of said envelope at one end thereof forsecuring said envelope in its inflated condition to a base whiledisposing said inflated envelope in an upright warning position.

3. A highway traffic warning signal device comprising an elongated,rectangular flexible inflatable envelope adapted to be rolled or foldedto a compact condition when not in use, said envelope includingflexible, rollable and foldable valve means for inflating said envelope,

and flexible adhesive tape means on opposite sides of said envelope atone end thereoi for securing said inflated envelope in a predeterminedrelation to a base.

4. A highway traffic warning signal device comprising a flattenedrectangular tubular envelope having the transverse opposed end edges atthe opposite ends thereof sealed together, an elongated, flexibleflattened tubular valve means secured between the sealed edges of saidenvelope at one end thereof Within one end of said valve meansprojecting interiorli of said envelope and the other end thereofprojecting exteriorly of said envelope for inflating said envelope, anda plurality of adhesive tape strips on one end of said inflated envelopefor securing said envelope to a base member in an upright Warningposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGregory Nov. 14, 1911 MacDonald Feb. 19, 1929 Andrews Feb. 1, 1955 WeigSept. 11, 1956 Baker July 23, 1957 Frankel Dec. 9, 1958 Fohr Nov. 21,1961

1. A HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WARNING SIGNAL DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDRECTANGULAR INFLATABLE ENVELOPE INCLUDING OPPOSED RECTANGULAR WALLPORTIONS, SAID WALLS BEING SECURED TOGETHER ABOUT THEIR PERIPHERALEDGES, A THIN FLEXIBLE VALVE MEMBER SECURED BETWEEN EDGE PORTIONS OFSAID WALL PORTIONS, ONE END OF SAID VALVE MEMBER PROJECTING INTO THEINTERIOR OF SAID ENVELOPE AND THE OTHER END PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF SAIDENVELOPE WHEREBY SAID ENVELOPE MAY BE INFLATED, AND ADHESIVE TAPE MEANSON ONE END OF SAID ENVELOPE FOR SECURING THE INFLATED ENVELOPE TO A BASEWHILE DISPOSING THE INFLATED ENVELOPE IN AN UPRIGHT SIGNALLINGCONDITION, SAID ENVELOPE BEING FOLDABLE TO FLAT COMPACT FORM WHEN NOT INUSE.